Method and apparatus for indicating continence state of a patient on a bed

ABSTRACT

A patient support apparatus includes a frame and a mattress supported by the frame and arranged to support a patient thereon. A sensor is included to detect moisture on the patient and/or the patient support apparatus. The sensor produces signals indicative of the presence of moisture on the patient support apparatus. One or more alerts are output in response to the signals provided by the sensor to notify a caregiver of the presence of moisture on the patient support apparatus.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/831,926, filed Mar. 27, 2020, which claims the benefit, under 35U.S.C. § 119(e), to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/833,040, filedApr. 12, 2019, the contents of each of which is incorporated byreference in its entirety into the present application.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to patient support apparatuses havingalerting capabilities. More specifically, the present disclosure relatesto patient support apparatuses that include sensors for monitoring anincontinence state of a patient and structures for alerting caregiverswhen moisture is detected.

Patients in healthcare facilities may become incontinent and may needthe wetness to be removed from the bed to prevent undesirable sideeffects. When moisture is detected by an incontinence detection system,a nurse may receive an alert of the incontinence state immediately,although immediate action may not be needed nor possible if all nursesare preoccupied with other, urgent tasks. Furthermore, other members inthe vicinity of the patient and the hospital bed may become upset ifthey notice an alert that the patient has become incontinent yet nocaregivers are available to immediately assist them.

SUMMARY

The present application discloses one or more of the features recited inthe appended claims and/or the following features which, alone or in anycombination, may comprise patentable subject matter:

In a first aspect of the present disclosure, a patient support apparatusincludes a frame, an incontinence detection pad supported by the frame,and an indicator. The incontinence detection pad is operable to detectincontinence of a patient supported by the frame. The indicator iscoupled to the frame and operable to provide a visual indication thatincontinence has been detected by the incontinence detection pad.

In some embodiments, a user input is provided to enable and disable theindicator. When the indicator is disabled, no visual indication thatincontinence has been detected by the incontinence detection pad isprovided by the indicator.

In some embodiments, the indicator includes a light at a foot end of theframe. The visual indication includes an incontinence icon that isprojected onto a floor adjacent to the frame.

In some embodiments, the patient support apparatus further includescommunication circuitry coupled to the frame and operable to transmit anincontinence status signal for receipt by a remote computer. The patientsupport apparatus further includes a graphical user interface (GUI)coupled to the frame and wherein the user input is displayed on the GUI.

In some embodiments, the incontinence detection pad provides a wirelesssignal indicative of an incontinence detection state. The indicatorcomprises a light coupled to the frame and a projector coupled to theframe and operable to project an incontinence icon onto a surfaceadjacent the frame. The light includes a second incontinence icon thatmatches an appearance of the incontinence icon that is projected ontothe surface. The user input is usable to enable and disable the light,the projector, or both.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a system includesa patient support apparatus, and a detection and notification system.The detection and notification system includes an incontinence detectionpad, an external alarm system, and a controller. The incontinencedetection pad is supported by the patient support apparatus and having acondition-responsive sensor to produce a signal indicative of moisturebeing present on the incontinence detection pad. The external alarmsystem includes a first indicator located in the vicinity of theincontinence detection pad and a second indicator located in a remotelocation out of view from the incontinence detection pad

In some embodiments, the first and second indicators display a firsticonic representation indicative of a lack of moisture on theincontinence detection pad and a second iconic representation indicativeof the presence of moisture on the incontinence detection pad. Thecontroller is coupled to the incontinence detection pad and includes aprocessor and a memory device storing instructions that, when executed,cause the first indicator to display selectively the first iconicrepresentation when the condition-responsive sensor produces the signalsand the second indicator to display the second iconic representationwhen the condition-responsive sensor produces the signals.

In some embodiments, the controller is reprogrammable through userinputs to display selectively the first or the second iconicrepresentation using the first indicator when the condition-responsivesensor determines that moisture is present on the incontinence detectionpad. The first iconic representation includes an iconic representationwith a first color and the second iconic representation includes theiconic representation with a second color different from the first colorto indicate the presence of moisture on the incontinence detection pad.

In some embodiments, the first indicator includes an indicator panelcoupled to the patient support apparatus. The first indicator may becoupled to a foot end of the frame. The first indicator further mayinclude a projector configured to display an image on a surface spacedapart from the patient support apparatus. The surface includes a flooraround the patient support apparatus. The first and second iconicrepresentations may be displayed at the same time.

In some embodiments, the system further includes a user interface forreceiving user inputs to control the first indicator to cause the firstindicator to display selectively the first iconic representation or thesecond iconic representation. The user interface includes a touch screenwith a number of button icons for receiving user inputs to control thefirst indicator to cause the first indicator to display selectively thefirst iconic representation or the second iconic representation.

In some embodiments, the button icons include a first indicator buttonicon that, when selected, may cause the first indicator to turn off suchthat the first and second iconic representations are displayed only bythe second indicator. The button icons include a second indicator buttonicon that, when selected, may cause the indicator panel and theprojector to display both the first and second iconic representationssuch that the first and second iconic representations are displayed byboth the first the second indicators. The button icons include aprojector button icon that, when selected, may cause the projector toturn off such that the first and second iconic representations aredisplayed only by the indicator panel and the second visual indicator.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a methodincludes: providing a patient support apparatus with a detection andnotification system including a first indicator in a proximate locationto the patient support apparatus and a second indicator in a remotelocation to the patient support apparatus. The method further includesdisplaying a first iconic representation at the proximate location whena condition is lacking. The method further includes displaying the firsticonic representation at the remote location when the condition islacking.

In some embodiments the method further includes displaying a secondiconic representation at the remote location when the condition ispresent and displaying selectively the first iconic representation atthe proximate location when the condition is present. The condition isthe presence of moisture on the patient support apparatus detected by asensor.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a detection andnotification system includes a condition-responsive sensor to produce asignal indicative of moisture being present, an external alarm system,and a controller. The external alarm system includes a first indicatorlocated in a proximate location to the sensor and a second indicatorlocated in a remote location out of view from the sensor. The controllercoupled to the sensor to receive the signal produced by the sensor.

In some embodiments, the first and second indicators display a firsticonic representation indicative of a lack of moisture and a secondiconic representation indicative of the presence of moisture. Thecontroller includes a processor and a memory device storing instructionsthat, when executed, cause the first indicator to display selectivelythe first iconic representation or the second iconic representation whenthe condition-responsive sensor produces the signals and the secondindicator to display the second iconic representation when thecondition-responsive sensor produces the signals.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a detection andnotification system includes an incontinence detection pad having acondition-responsive sensor to produce a signal indicative of moisturebeing present on the incontinence detection pad, an external alarmsystem, and a controller. The external alarm system includes a firstindicator located in a proximate location to the incontinence detectionpad and a second indicator located in a remote location out of view fromthe incontinence detection pad. The controller is coupled to theincontinence detection pad and the external alarm system.

In some embodiments, the controller includes a processor and a memorydevice storing instructions that, when executed, cause the firstindicator to display selectively a first iconic representation or asecond iconic representation when the condition-responsive sensorproduces the signals and the second indicator to display the secondiconic representation when the condition-responsive sensor produces thesignals. The first indicator displays the first iconic representationwhen the incontinence detection pad is installed on the patient supportapparatus, the second iconic representation displays the firstindication when there is a lack of moisture on the incontinencedetection pad, and the second indicator displays the second iconicrepresentation when there is a presence of moisture on the incontinencedetection pad. The first visual indicator continues to display the firsticonic representation when there is a presence of moisture on theincontinence detection pad.

Additional features, which alone or in combination with any otherfeature(s), including those listed above and those listed in the claims,may comprise patentable subject matter and will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon consideration of the following detaileddescription of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode ofcarrying out the invention as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figuresin which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a patient support apparatus including adetection and notification system according to the present disclosureand a user interface with a touch screen used to control the detectionand notification system; and

FIG. 2-7 are diagrammatic representations displayed on the graphicaluser interface with a number of button icons for controlling thedetection and notification system;

FIG. 2 is a screen shot of a home screen displayed on the graphical userinterface in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a screen shot of a settings screen displayed on the graphicaluser interface in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a screen shot of a bed features screen displayed on thegraphical user interface in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a screen shot of an indicator settings screen displayed on thegraphical user interface in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a screen shot of an incontinence indicator screen displayed onthe graphical user interface in accordance with the present disclosure;and

FIG. 7 is a screen shot of a projector screen displayed on the graphicaluser interface in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1 , a patient support apparatus 10 is illustrativelyembodied as a hospital bed 10. The hospital bed 10 includes a frame 12,a mattress 14 supported on the frame 12, and a detection andnotification system 16. An example of a suitable frame 12 and mattress14 is shown and described in U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2018/0184984 which isexpressly incorporated by reference herein for the purpose of describingthe frame 12 and mattress 14 along with associated functions andcapabilities of the frame 12 and mattress 14. The detection andnotification system 16 is configured to determine an incontinence stateof a patient resting on the mattress 14 and display selectivelynotifications that indicate various statuses of the detection andnotification system 16.

The detection and notification system includes a condition-responsivesensor 18, a controller 20 coupled to the sensor 18, and an externalalarm system 22 as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 . The sensor 18 isconfigured to sense the presence of moisture on the patient and/or themattress 14 and output signals indicative thereof. The controller 20receives the signals from the sensor 18 and issues commands to theexternal alarm system 22 to provide a notification based on user inputsand/or user preferences stored in the controller 20. The external alarmsystem 22 provides one or more notifications that match the storedinputs or preferences.

In the illustrative embodiment, the sensor 18 is integrated into anincontinence detection pad 24 that is supported on the mattress 14 andthe frame 12 as suggested in FIG. 1 . The incontinence detection pad 24is positioned on the hospital bed 10 for surveillance for unwantedincontinence fluids or other biofluids that may be produced by apatient. The incontinence detection pad 24 absorbs and retains thefluids therein and the incontinence detection pad 24 may be removed andreplaced without replacing the entire mattress 14. An example of asuitable incontinence detection pad 24 is shown and described in U.S.Patent Pub. No. 2019/0060137 which is expressly incorporated byreference herein for the purpose of describing a suitable incontinencedetection pad.

The condition-responsive sensor 18 includes a sensor circuit with aplurality of electrically conductive traces printed on a substrate ofthe incontinence detection pad 24 that produce the sensor signals whenmoisture is present on the incontinence detection pad 24. Examples of asuitable sensor with a sensor circuit integrated into an incontinencedetection pad is shown and described in U.S. Patent Pub. Nos.2017/0065464 and 2018/0021184, each of which is expressly incorporatedherein for the purpose of showing and describing a suitable sensor foran incontinence detection pad and means for powering the sensor andtransmitting the signals produced by the sensor. In some embodiments,the sensor 18 communicated wirelessly with controller 20. In otherembodiments, a wired connection is provided between sensor 18 andcontroller 20.

The controller 20 includes a processor 26 and a memory device 28 storinginstructions that, when executed, cause the external alarm system 22 todisplay selectively the notifications according to the user inputs. Thecontroller 20 includes all of the functionality needed to operate theexternal alarm system 22 and is coupled with a graphical user interface30 mounted on or near the hospital bed 10 as shown in FIG. 1 . The userinputs are entered by a caregiver with the graphical user interface 30and are stored in memory device 28 to program the controller 20 tooperate the external alarm system 22 according to the caregiver's and/orpatient's preferences.

The external alarm system 22 displays notifications that representstatuses of the sensor 18 based on the user inputs that have beenentered into the user interface 30 and stored in the memory device 28 ofthe controller 20. In one embodiment, the status of the sensor 18 iswhether or not moisture is present on the incontinence detection pad 24.In another embodiment, the status of the sensor 18 is whether or not thehospital bed 10 is provided with an incontinence fluid sensingcapability (i.e. the incontinence detection pad 24 with the integratedsensor 18).

The external alarm system 22 includes a first indicator 32 located in aproximate location to the hospital bed 10 and a second indicator 34located in a remote location out of view from the hospital bed 10. Theproximate location may be in the same room as the hospital bed 10 whilethe remote location is outside of the room with the hospital bed 10. Thecontroller 20 may be coupled with the external alarm system 22 through asuitable connection, such as a universal asynchronousreceiver/transmitter (UART) connection 36, or through a wirelessconnection 38 that includes one or more antennas 40 and/or transceivers42. The first indicator 32 displays iconic representations on or nearthe hospital bed 10. Depending on the user inputs entered into the userinterface 30, the first indicator 32 may display an iconicrepresentation indicative of whether or not moisture is present onincontinence detection pad 24, or an iconic representation indicative ofwhether or not the patient's hospital bed 10 is currently provided withan incontinence detection pad 24. The second indicator 34 may displaythe same representations at the remote location or differentrepresentations depending on the user inputs entered into the userinterface 30. In the illustrative embodiment, the second indicator 34 islocated at a master nurse call station.

When a status of the sensor 18 changes, the first and the secondindicators may display a new iconic representation to alert thecaregiver of the change and indicate that appropriate action may beneeded such as, for example, changing a wet or soiled incontinencedetection pad 24. In some instances, changing a wet or soiledincontinence detection pad is not an action that requires urgentcompletion and medical personnel made be delayed in responding to theaction if they are busy with other patients. Still, the sensor 18 withinthe incontinence detection pad 24 is configured to provide the signalsas soon as moisture is detected on the incontinence detection pad 24.Upon receiving the signals from the sensor 18, the controller 20 maycause the first indicator 32 to display the new iconic representationproximate to the hospital bed 10 as soon as the sensor 18 detects themoisture. Non-medical personnel within the room may see the new iconicrepresentation and expect urgent action to remedy the situation eventhough urgent action may not be needed and/or possible at that time.Accordingly, the non-medical personnel may become irritated or upsetthat the patient's incontinence detection pad 24 has not been changed.The external alarm system 22 in the illustrative embodiment may beprogrammed selectively through the user inputs into the user interface30 to either: 1) turn off the first indicator 32 such that only thesecond indicator 34 is used; 2) display an iconic representation withthe first indicator 32 that indicates only that the hospital bed 10 iscurrently provided with an incontinence detection pad 24; or 3) changeselectively what types of indications are provided by the firstindicator 32.

In the illustrative embodiment, the first indicator 32 is mounted to afoot end 44 of the hospital bed 10 and includes an indicator panel 46and a projector 48 as shown in FIG. 1 . The indicator panel 46 displaysa plurality of iconic representations 50 associated with differentfeatures of the hospital bed 10 and/or information related to thepatient. The projector 48 illuminates iconic representations 52 on asurface 54 that is spaced apart from the hospital bed 10. The iconicrepresentations 52 illuminated by the projector 48 are substantiallysimilar to the iconic representations 50 displayed by the indicatorpanel 46; however, in other embodiments, they may be different. In theillustrative embodiment, the surface 54 is the floor near the foot end44 of the hospital bed 10; however, the surface 54 may be a wall oranother surface located proximate to the hospital bed 10. An example ofa suitable indicator panel and projector is described in U.S. PatentPub. No. 2018/0184984, which is already incorporated by reference hereinand may also be used for the purpose of describing a suitable indicatorpanel capable of displaying the iconic representations and a suitableprojector capable of illuminating the iconic representations.

In the illustrative embodiment, one such iconic representation displayedby the indicator panel 46 and illuminated by the projector 48 is a waterdroplet 56 as shown in FIG. 1 . The water droplet 56 is associated withthe sensor 18 in the incontinence detection pad 24. The controller 20displays the water droplet 56 on the indicator panel 46 and/orilluminates the water droplet using the projector depending on the userinputs entered into the user interface 30. In one embodiment, thecontroller 20 causes the water droplet 56 to change colors as the statusof the sensor 18 in the incontinence detection pad 24 changes. In theillustrative embodiment, the controller 20 causes first indicator todisplay and/or illuminate the water droplet 56 with a white color whenthe hospital bed 10 is not provided with an incontinence detection pad24. The controller 20 causes the first indicator 32 to display and/orilluminate the water droplet 56 with a green color when an incontinencedetection pad 24 is provided in the hospital bed 10. In otherembodiments, other colors may be used to indicate the presence or lackof an incontinence detection pad 24 on the hospital bed 10.

In one embodiment, the green color indicates a lack of moisture on theincontinence detection pad 24 as determined by the sensor 18. Once thesensor 18 detects moisture on the incontinence detection pad 24, asignal is output to the controller 20 and the controller 20, uponreceipt of the signal, causes the first indicator 32 to display and/orilluminate the water droplet 56 with an amber color to notify acaregiver that action is needed. In other embodiments, any suitablecolor may be used to indicate the presence of moisture on theincontinence detection pad 24 and that action is needed. The controller20 also causes the second indicator 34 to notify the caregiver at theremote location that action is needed. The second indicator 34 maydisplay and/or illuminate a similar iconic representation to the waterdroplet 56 in a similar manner to first indicator 32; however, anysuitable method of notifying a caregiver at the remote location may beused.

In accordance with the present disclosure, the user interface 30receives user inputs that selectively change an appearance of the iconicrepresentations 50, 52 at the proximate location than the appearancetypically displayed and/or illuminate when the sensor 18 detectsmoisture on the incontinence detection pad 24. In one embodiment, theuser inputs program the controller 20 to cause the first indicator 32 tocontinue to display and/or illuminate the water droplet 56 with thegreen color even when moisture is present on the incontinence detectionpad 24. In this instance, the green color indicates only that thehospital bed 10 has been provided with an incontinence detection pad 24.In another embodiment, the indicator panel 46 and/or the projector 48 ofthe first indicator 32 may be turned off such that only the secondindicator 34 notifies a caregiver at the remote location when moistureis detected on the incontinence detection pad 24 by the sensor 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-7 , the graphical user interface 30 displays atouchscreen 60 that includes a number of icons which may be selected bya user to control various functions of the hospital bed 10. Thefunctionality of the touchscreen 60 is disclosed in the PCT applicationWO2016/196403, filed May 29, 2016, and incorporated by reference hereinfor the disclosure of a touch screen menu structure of the hospital bed10. The touchscreen 60 displays a home screen 62 that includes an alarmstatus section 64, an information bar 66, a function panel 68, a homekey 70, and a scrolling menu 72. The scrolling menu 72 includes asettings button icon 74 which, when touched by a user, activates asettings screen 76 shown in FIG. 3 .

The settings screen 76 is displayed on the graphical user interface 30when the settings button icon 74 is touched as shown in FIG. 3 . Thesettings screen 76 includes a bed function panel 78 and a bedinformation panel 80. The bed function panel 78 includes a bed featuresbutton icon 82 which, when touched by the user, activates a bed featuresscreen 84 as shown in FIG. 4 .

The bed features screen 84 includes a display function panel 86 as shownin FIG. 4 . The display function panel 86 includes a selection buttonicon 88 which, when touched by the user, activates an indicator settingsscreen 90 as shown in FIG. 5 . The selection button icon 88 depictsSAFEVIEW™, which is a proprietary term that is used to represent variousfunctions associated with the detection and notification system 16.

The indicator settings screen 90 includes an indicator button icon 92and a projector button icon 94 that, when selected by a user, activatean incontinence indicator screen 96, as shown in FIG. 6 , and aprojection screen 98, as shown in FIG. 7 . The indicator button icon 92depicts WATCHCARE™, which is a proprietary term that is used torepresent various functions associated with the detection andnotification system 16.

With the incontinence indicator screen 96 activated, the user may make aselection to alter the appearance of the first indicator 32. Theincontinence indicator screen 96 includes a first indicator button icon100, a second indicator button icon 102, and a third indicator buttonicon 104. The first button icon 100, when selected, programs thecontroller 20 to cause the first indicator 32 to display and illuminatethe water droplet 56 using both the indicator panel 46 and the projector48. The second button icon 102, when selected, programs the controller20 to cause the first indicator to display the water droplet 56 usingonly the indicator panel 46. The third button icon 104, when selected,programs the controller 20 to cause the first indicator 32 to be turnedoff completely. Once the user is finished making a selection, an acceptbutton icon 106 may be selected to activate the desired appearance ofthe first indicator 32. In the illustrative embodiment, the secondindicator 34 continues to notify the caregiver regardless of the buttonicon selection made on the incontinence indicator screen 96; however, inother embodiments, the appearance of the notification provided at thesecond location by the second indicator may also be altered.

With the projection screen 98 activated, the user may make additionalselections to alter the appearance of the illuminated iconicrepresentations 52 from the projector 48 as shown in FIG. 7 . Theprojection screen 98 includes a first projector button icon 108 that,when selected, turns the floor projections on and a second projectorbutton icon 110 that, when selected, turns the floor projections off.Once the user is finished making a selection, an accept button icon 112may be selected to activate the desired appearance of the illuminatediconic representations 52 from the projector 48.

Although certain illustrative embodiments have been described in detailabove, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit ofthis disclosure as described and as defined in the following clauses andclaims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A detection and notification systemcomprising a condition-responsive sensor configured to produce a signalindicative of moisture associated with a bodily fluid being present, thesensor being supported on a patient support apparatus, an external alarmsystem including a first indicator located in a proximate location tothe sensor and a second indicator located in a remote location out ofview from the sensor, the first and second indicators displaying a firsticonic representation indicative of a lack of moisture and a secondiconic representation indicative of the presence of moisture, and acontroller coupled to the sensor and including a processor and a memorydevice storing instructions that, when executed, cause the firstindicator to display selectively the first iconic representation or thesecond iconic representation when the condition-responsive sensorproduces the signals and the second indicator to display the secondiconic representation when the condition-responsive sensor produces thesignals.
 2. The detection and notification system of claim 1, whereinthe first indicator includes at least one of an indicator panel fordisplaying the iconic representations and a projector for illuminatingthe iconic representations on a surface spaced apart from the projector.3. The detection and notification system of claim 2, further comprisinga user interface with a touch screen that includes a number of buttonicons for receiving user inputs to control the first indicator to causethe first indicator to display selectively the first iconicrepresentation or the second iconic representation.
 4. The detection andnotification system of claim 3, wherein the button icons includes afirst indicator button icon that, when selected, causes the firstindicator to turn off such that the first and second iconicrepresentations are displayed only by the second indicator.
 5. Thedetection and notification system of claim 4, wherein the button iconsinclude a second indicator button icon that, when selected, causes theindicator panel and the projector to display both the first and secondiconic representations such that the first and second iconicrepresentations are displayed by both the first the second indicators.6. The detection and notification system of claim 5, wherein the buttonicons include a projector button icon that, when selected, causes theprojector to turn off such that the first and second iconicrepresentations are displayed only by the indicator panel and the secondvisual indicator.
 7. The detection and notification system of claim 1,wherein the first visual indicator is configured to continue to displaythe first iconic representation when there is a presence of moisture. 8.The detection and notification system of claim 1, wherein the controllercauses the first indicator to display the first iconic representationwhen the condition-responsive sensor produces the signal and the secondindicator to display the second iconic representation when thecondition-responsive sensor produces the signal.
 9. The detection andnotification system of claim 8, wherein the first and second iconicrepresentations are displayed at the same time.
 10. The detection andnotification system of claim 1, further comprising a user interfaceconfigured to receive a user input to enable and disable the firstindicator, wherein when the first indicator is disabled, no iconicrepresentation that moisture is present is provided by the firstindicator, and wherein the user interface is configured to receive asecond user input, and, in response to the second user input, the firstindicator continues displaying the first iconic representation after thecondition-responsive sensor determines that moisture is present.
 11. Adetection and notification system comprising an incontinence detectionpad having a condition-responsive sensor to produce a signal indicativeof moisture being present on the incontinence detection pad, an externalalarm system including a first indicator located in a proximate locationto the incontinence detection pad and a second indicator located in aremote location out of view from the incontinence detection pad, and acontroller coupled to the incontinence detection pad and including aprocessor and a memory device storing instructions that, when executed,cause the first indicator to display selectively a first visualindication or a second visual indication when the condition-responsivesensor produces the signal and the second indicator to display thesecond visual indication when the condition-responsive sensor producesthe signal.
 12. The detection and notification system of claim 11,wherein the first indicator displays the first visual indication whenthe incontinence detection pad is installed on the patient supportapparatus, the second visual indication displays the first visualindication when there is a lack of moisture on the incontinencedetection pad, and the second indicator displays the second visualindication when there is a presence of moisture on the incontinencedetection pad while the first indicator continues displaying the firstvisual indication.
 13. The detection and notification system of claim11, wherein the first visual indicator is configured to continue todisplay the first visual indication when there is a presence of moistureon the incontinence detection pad.
 14. The detection and notificationsystem of claim 11, wherein the first indicator includes at least one ofan indicator panel for displaying the visual indications and a projectorfor illuminating the visual indications on a surface spaced apart fromthe projector.
 15. The detection and notification system of claim 14,further comprising a user interface with a touch screen that includes anumber of button icons for receiving user inputs to control the firstindicator to cause the first indicator to display selectively the firstvisual indication or the second visual indication.
 16. The detection andnotification system of claim 15, wherein the button icons includes afirst indicator button icon that, when selected, causes the firstindicator to turn off such that the first and second visual indicationsare displayed only by the second indicator.
 17. The detection andnotification system of claim 16, wherein the button icons include asecond indicator button icon that, when selected, causes the indicatorpanel and the projector to display both the first and second visualindications such that the first and second visual indications aredisplayed by both the first the second indicators.
 18. The detection andnotification system of claim 17, wherein the button icons include aprojector button icon that, when selected, causes the projector to turnoff such that the first and second visual indications are displayed onlyby the indicator panel and the second visual indicator.
 19. Thedetection and notification system of claim 11, wherein the controllercauses the first indicator to display the first visual indication whenthe condition-responsive sensor produces the signal and the secondindicator to display the second visual indication when thecondition-responsive sensor produces the signal, and wherein the firstand second visual indications are displayed at the same time.
 20. Thedetection and notification system of claim 11, further comprising a userinterface configured to receive a user input to enable and disable thefirst indicator, wherein when the first indicator is disabled, no visualindication that moisture is present on the incontinence detection pad isprovided by the first indicator, and wherein the user interface isconfigured to receive a second user input, and, in response to thesecond user input, the first indicator continues displaying the firstvisual indication after the condition-responsive sensor determines thatmoisture is present on the incontinence detection pad.